jtara - 3:57 pm on Oct 25, 2006 (gmt 0)

[quote]OK, so here's an idea -- on the G home page, between the query field and the 2 buttons ("Google Search" and "I'm Feeling Luck"), Google inserts one short line of text with 3 checkboxes:

I am looking for [] General Information ¦ [] Product Information ¦ [] Both [/quote

Actually, I've proposed a similar concept. Fallen on deaf ears, of course.

Some search engine should devise a technique (may involve AI techniques, may not) for classifying websites and webpages into multiple, non-mutually-exclusive categories.

Examples of categories: "store", "manufacturer", "online outlet of brick and morter store", " registered non-profit organization", "sports team", "parent-teachers association", "resturant", "airline", "travel agency", "hobbyist site", "enthusist site", "price-comparison".

etc. etc. etc.

Now, let users select categories that they do or do not want to see. This can be done on a global or per-search basis, using either special keywords or drop-downs, check-boxes, etc.

Is this just DMOZ/Open Directory Project? Not really. I'd like to see all the sites in a large search engine categorized.

Is Google already doing this with the specialized searches? No. You are locked-in to the specialized search you have chosen (say, academic), rather than being able to combine categorical terms.

Whoever does this will be the next dominent search engine.